news
HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Game Commission today announced that the 2000 calendar year was the safest hunting year in the 86 years that records have been kept. Last year, there were 69 hunting-related shooting incidents, including three fatalities. In addition, an incident rate of 6.72 per 100,000 participants also was the lowest on record.
"While even one incident is one too many, we are pleased that hunters continue to improve their safety record," said Vern Ross, Game Commission executive director. "The marked decline of these incidents can be attributed to the success of hunter education training and mandatory use of fluorescent orange clothing. However, we must continue to do better."
A hunting-related shooting incident is defined as any occurrence in which a person is injured as the result of a discharge of a firearm or bow and arrow during actual hunting or trapping activities. Often these incidents result from failing to follow basic safety rules.
The second safest hunting year on record occurred in 1999, when 83 persons (including 4 fatalities) were struck by discharges from sporting arms such as rifles, shotguns, handguns and bow and arrows. The second lowest incident rate was in 1993, when 85 persons (including four fatalities) were recorded for an incident rate of 7.37 incidents per 100,000 hunters.
In 2000, most of the incidents occurred during the big game seasons: wild turkey, 23; and deer, 22. Other leading categories included: rabbit, 6; pheasant, 6; squirrel hunting, 5;grouse, 4; quail, 1; dove, 1; and crow, 1.
People shot in mistake for game comprised 21 of the hunting-related shooting incidents. Of those incidents, 18 occurred during turkey seasons; the remainder in deer seasons.
The other most common shooting incident cause was in-line-of-fire. Of those, 12 occurred during small game seasons; five during turkey seasons; and four during deer seasons.
Other causes of shooting incidents were: unintentional discharge, 11; ricochet, 5; stray shot, 3; dropped sporting arm, 3; slipped and/or fell, 3; and sporting arm in dangerous position, 2.
Of the 69 incidents, there were three fatalities in 2000; two were self-inflicted and one was inflicted by another hunter. Of the remaining 66 non-fatal incidents, 53 were inflicted by others and 13 were self-inflicted.
The Game Commission has posted information about hunting-related shooting incidents dating back to 1991 on its website at www.pgc.state.pa.us (select "Hunting Information," then choose "Hunter-Trapper Education," and click on "Incident Statistics"). Additionally, information on hunter-trapper education and bowhunter education classes, including a county-by-county schedule, also may be viewed at the "Hunter-Trapper Education" section.
Uploaded: 3/29/2001
Uploaded: 3/29/2001